Tactics planned to block home for substance abusers in Worcester

Thursday

Dec 19, 2013 at 6:00 AM

By Alli Knothe TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — About 60 people gathered at Forest Grove Middle School on Wednesday night to discuss tactics that would block the creation of a residential treatment program to house teenage boys struggling with substance abuse in a nearby building.

"This program is not suitable for any residential area," said resident Deborah Steigman, a former chairman of the Citywide Parent Planning Advisory Council, who spoke to the crowd about her concerns over public safety.

Last month, social service agency Community Healthlink purchased a three-story building at 119 Forest St., near Indian Lake. The building had previously housed administrative offices for the Henry Lee Willis Center.

He explained that the organization must be selected by the Department of Youth Services to run the program. The deadline to apply for that was this week.

Julie Kaviar, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Human Services, said several organizations were vying for the ability to run the program. Only one will be selected, and that organization would receive state funding.

The DYS request calls for a program to house 12 to 14 teenage boys. Criteria for those boys would include a history of significant substance abuse, challenges in peer and family relationships and poor impulse control.

"Once a site is selected we would start working with the community to address any concerns they might have," she said.

Neighbors cited eight incidents that have occurred in the last 20 years throughout Community Healthlink's many programs.

"If eight elderly people or children are harmed in 20 years in our community that's horrendous ... in anyone's backyard," Matt Dionis said.

Eileen LeStrange also expressed her frustration and described the organization as "covered by arrogance."

During an open house for neighbors earlier this month, Community Healthlink President and Chief Executive Deborah Ekstrom said that the building would be well secured and that the neighbors had nothing to be concerned about.

"I'm not here to bash these programs," said Mr. Petty. "Worcester I think has become a mecca of these programs ... at what point does Worcester become saturated?"

He stressed the issue is a citywide problem that especially includes the Main South neighborhood. "At what point do we have to say enough is enough?"

Mr. Economou urged those at the meeting to individually reach out to the Department of Youth Services Commissioner Peter J. Forbes as well as Dr. Eric Dickson, the head of University of Massachusetts Memorial Healthcare, which runs Community Healthlink.

Another community meeting on the matter will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 8.